Photo taken on July 5, 2017 shows the confiscated illegal arms in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. More than 2,600 guns, 63,000 rounds of ammunition, and some explosives were destroyed. Chinese police destroyed more than 140,000 illegal guns and a large amount of explosives Wednesday in a nationwide campaign to enhance public security. (Xinhua/Long Lei)
SHENYANG, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police destroyed more than 140,000 illegal guns and a large amount of explosives Wednesday in a nationwide campaign to enhance public security.
The Ministry of Public Security launched the campaign in Shenyang, capital of the northeastern province of Liaoning, where more than 2,600 guns, 63,000 rounds of ammunition, and some explosives were destroyed.
The destruction of illegal guns and explosives seized by police or handed in by the public, was conducted in 202 counties and cities across the country on Wednesday.
Qian Xiongfei, deputy director of the security administration bureau under the ministry, said the campaign showed the determination of the police to crack down on gun-related crime and protect citizens.
Police strengthened the campaign in May and focused the crackdown on the online gun trade.
The ongoing campaign has resulted in a continuous decrease of gun-related crime.
Over the past five years, crime involving guns and explosives has fallen by 25.5 percent and 17.2 percent respectively annually on average, said the ministry.
Chinese law bans private ownership of guns. Violators face penalties of up to seven years in prison.
